Emmanuel Adeleke
There was low turn out of voters in Oke Ogun zone of Oyo State.
In communities like Igbope and Igboho, in Oorelope Local Government Area, and Ogboro, in Saki East Local Government Area, INEC officials were seen waiting for voters.
Unlike the presidential and national assembly elections where electorate trooped en masse despite the hot weather, people were seen going about their businesses on Saturday without showing interest in the ongoing governorship and assembly elections.
In his assessment of the election, the immediate past Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Solid Minerals, Hon Mathew Oyedokun, said the exercise was peaceful, but the turnout was not impressive.
He said the traditional ruler in Igbope sent his town crier on Friday evening to persuade people on the need to perform their civic responsibility.
“Yesterday, the Onigbope of Igbope had to send out his town crier to announce to people that tomorrow is election; please come out and vote. He also appealed to people not to fight, and to be peaceful. But despite all that, we still found out that a lot of people are at home.
“Whatever is responsible for that, we have to research into it but in terms of peace, the election is very peaceful,” he said
In Igboho, the Special Assistant to the Govenor on Print Media, Moses Alao, lamented the voter aparthy.
“So far so good there has been orderliness and stability and peace in Oorelope Local Government.
“Generally speaking, this has always been the trend. During the presidential election, people come out en masse, immediately after that election, you see something else.
“If I may recommend, I think at some point, INEC should redefine or rearrange the order of election because it is actually more important for people to care about who govern them at the state and local government level than the federal level,” he said.
However, the situation is different at the polling unit of former deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo.
According to the former deputy governor, the number of voters at his polling Unit 4, Ward 5, Asanko area of Ogboro, in Saki East Local Government Area were more than the ones that voted in the presidential election.
